Of the 2.7 million who fought on the Union side in the Civil War, it has been estimated that 2 million were only 21 yrs old or younger. One internet site claims that there were over two dozen UNDER THE AGE OF 10.
So I guess Luther Crawford Ladd was an old man by the age of 17 when he put on the uniform and marched off to war and rode into history as the first ever to be killed by the enemy. (One of the recipients I will be blogging about later was ony 16 when he earned his Medal of Honor)
Luther was raised on the farm. There were many siblings but most died at a very early age, as did his mother.
It was just 4 days after the bombing at Fort Sumter that President Lincoln put out the call for 75,000 men to help preserve the Union. This patriot heard that call and immediately signed up and appeared at home wearing the uniform of the City Guards, better known as Lowell's Guard (6th Massachussetts Volunteer Militia.) His brother-in-law felt so angered because of his tender age that he offerred to take Luther's place, but Luther refused to trade places. In fact he chose that very unit as he felt it had the best bet of being called up first. And it was. The photo, shown here, and taken that day, was later printed in the Harpers' Weekly and was probably the last taken of the youth.
So I guess Luther Crawford Ladd was an old man by the age of 17 when he put on the uniform and marched off to war and rode into history as the first ever to be killed by the enemy. (One of the recipients I will be blogging about later was ony 16 when he earned his Medal of Honor)
Luther was raised on the farm. There were many siblings but most died at a very early age, as did his mother.
It was just 4 days after the bombing at Fort Sumter that President Lincoln put out the call for 75,000 men to help preserve the Union. This patriot heard that call and immediately signed up and appeared at home wearing the uniform of the City Guards, better known as Lowell's Guard (6th Massachussetts Volunteer Militia.) His brother-in-law felt so angered because of his tender age that he offerred to take Luther's place, but Luther refused to trade places. In fact he chose that very unit as he felt it had the best bet of being called up first. And it was. The photo, shown here, and taken that day, was later printed in the Harpers' Weekly and was probably the last taken of the youth.
Ladd's unit had to travel by train to Washington DC, and the route would travel through Spring-field, Hartford, New York, Trenton, and Philadel- phia. But at Baltimore on 19 April 1861 things turned ugly. The city had already made it know it did not want troops traveling through its streets. But because the city would not allow trains to drive through the city, those travelling beyond had to get off at one end and travel several blocks and board another train on the other side. This short route consisted of a set of rails with a rail car that was pulled along by horses. So Ladd's unit boarded these on arrival at Baltimore and started the short trip. But they found the line had been blocked by obstructions. So the men did the natural thing. They got off and started marching through town. But an angry mob appeared and started thowing bricks and other missiles. Others continued the assault from the upper floors of the buildings. Soon pistol shots rang out and the troops reponded in kind. Many on both sides were wounded and killed. Ladd was first struck in the head, he went down but was struck again in a leg severing an artery. Wihin minutes he was dead. He would be the first in uniform killed by enemey action in the war.
Three others would join him. The police finally managed to control the crowds and the several companies and their wounded and dead finally made it to the rest of the Regiment that had gotten through before the mob started its assault.
Upon arrival at Boston two young women who had been employed at the capital came to the aid of the wounded. They were sisters. They took the needy into their own home to nurse them. One of these women was none other than Clara Barton, pictured here, who would start the American Red Cross in the early 1870's.
When Private Ladd was killed... he was not the first Union soldier to die in the war. He was the first to be killed by the enemy.
As a salute was being performed by the firing of a cannon and the lowering for the final time of the flag at Fort Sumter and explosion occured. A soldier by the name of Pte Daniel Hough was killed. And this was on 14 April 1861. Hough was killed by an accident after some 35 hours of bombing of his fort, and the dropping of some 4,800 shells.. without a single death.
Private Luther C. Ladd was born 169 years ago today !
Bart
Upon arrival at Boston two young women who had been employed at the capital came to the aid of the wounded. They were sisters. They took the needy into their own home to nurse them. One of these women was none other than Clara Barton, pictured here, who would start the American Red Cross in the early 1870's.
When Private Ladd was killed... he was not the first Union soldier to die in the war. He was the first to be killed by the enemy.
As a salute was being performed by the firing of a cannon and the lowering for the final time of the flag at Fort Sumter and explosion occured. A soldier by the name of Pte Daniel Hough was killed. And this was on 14 April 1861. Hough was killed by an accident after some 35 hours of bombing of his fort, and the dropping of some 4,800 shells.. without a single death.
Private Luther C. Ladd was born 169 years ago today !
Bart
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